Animals
The boreal forest shelters more than 85 species of mammals, including some of the largest animals and most unique. Some of these animals are the – wood bison, elk, moose, woodland caribou, grizzly, black bears, and wolves. Some smaller species are beavers, snowshoe hares, Canada Lynx, red squirrels, lemmings, and voles. Predator/ Prey relationship Lynx (Predator) ->-> Wolverine (Prey) This chart shows that the Lynx out number the Wolverine population by a large amount because the Wolverine is an important food source to the Lynx. Adaptations In areas that have cold winters, such as the Boreal forest, some common bird foods, such as nectar and insects, may not be available year-round. Birds that eat those foods must fly south to find food to survive. Other birds that eat seeds or bugs that live under tree bark often hang around, since they can continue to find food all winter long. While some birds instinctively migrate at certain times of the year. As long as food remains available, some birds will delay migration or won't leave at all. Snowshoe hares were made for living in Alaska. During the summer their fur is brown, but for winter it becomes white. Their fur becoming white is an adaptation, it makes it easier for the hares to hide from predators. Their big feet help them to get around in the deep snow, like a pair of snowshoes. Snowshoe hares do not live underground in tunnels or dens. They live under thick brush and natural depressions. Invasive Species Asian long horned beetle: These beetles were introduced to Boreal forests all around North America by travelling over sea from China in solid wood packaging such as crates and pallets. Attacks from the beetle have been reported all over North America. They mainly affect healthy trees such as maple, birch, willow, and elm. Because this beetle could kill trees and had no known natural enemies in this country, it represented a serious threat to the Boreal Forests. These beetles tunnel into trees, eating their leafs and laying larvae inside the trunks. The larvae then tunnel into the tissue of the tree, causing the tree to have to water and nutrients and die. Zebra Mussels: Native to the black sea, these mussels reproduce so quickly they clog up water intake and buoys used by fishermen. Also they filter a huge amount of phytoplankton which affects the local food chain. They are located in lakes around Manitoba and are a big problem at the moment. Zebra mussels get there name from a stripped pattern commonly seen on their shells. They are usually the size of a finger nail but can grow to a maximum of 5cm. Zebra mussel’s process up to one litre of water a day, per mussel. Some particles are consumed as food, and feces are deposited on the lake floor. Species at Risk: The grizzly bear is one of the main endangered species in the boreal forest in Banff National Park. The grizzly bear population in Alberta, Canada is estimated to be around 691. This endangerment is primarily because of human hunting. These bears are hunted for their meat and fur. This ongoing hunting is causing the bears to be at risk of extinction. The grizzly bear is also endangered due to deforestation. 92,500 hectares of forest are being cut down each year in Canada. In some regions of the boreal forest, trees are lost at the same rates of trees in rainforests. This makes it hard for the bears to hide from predators, like humans. These are the factors driving the grizzly bears into extinction. If grizzly bears become extinct then their whole food chain will be disrupted. Grizzly bears consume great amounts of moose, deer, sheep, elk, bison, caribou and various species of plants. Without the bears eating these species in the ecosystem, the prey will overpopulate. The grizzly bear is an essential factor in the boreal forest because without it to eat its prey, the ecosystem will become unbalanced. |